Meet Rising East Atlanta Rapper ManMan Savage

ManMan Savage is one of Atlanta's fastest rising rappers. Check out this dope Q&A with the Zone 6 representative.

By: Daniela Evgenivna (@lalathedj)

ManMan Savage started writing music at age 14 while organically being around budding artists in musical hotspot Atlanta, and by 16 found himself in the studio daily. The self-proclaimed “Atlanta dude” is from Zone 6, East Atlanta, proudly representing his movement EA (which also stands for Everybody Active).

Despite first performing in 2012 and dropping his first full-length project in 2014, the 24-year-old claims he only began taking music seriously about 2 years ago.

Since then, his career has been ascending as he builds an impressive catalog and recently performed several sold-out shows with West Coast acts such as Shoreline Mafia.

We sat down with the rising rapper to discuss his background, current projects, and musical style.

AllHipHop: You just got off tour, where did you go?

ManMan Savage: I was on with Rob Vicious. 4 dates — Fresno, Santa Ana, San Diego, Santa Barbara, it was turnt.

AllHipHop: Which was the best show?

ManMan Savage: Crowd-wise, Fresno. It was a lotta people there, it was turnt up.

AllHipHop: What is your relationship with 03 Greedo? I know you have “She A Freak” together.

ManMan Savage: That’s like my brother. We have lots of finished stuff we ain't released yet.

AllHipHop: Do you prefer working with LA rappers or Atlanta?

ManMan Savage: It don’t matter. I like both.

AllHipHop: Who’s your favorite person to collaborate with?

ManMan Savage: Ron-Ron (the producer)

AllHipHop: Is there anyone you haven’t worked with who you want to work with?

MMS: Honestly, I’ve worked with everyone. But I really want to work with Travis Barker, the drummer. We’ve started talking about it.

AllHipHop: Living or dead, if you could get anyone on a song, who?

ManMan Savage: Probably Pac. Or Jay-Z.

AllHipHop: Who are your favorites from the new generation?

ManMan Savage: I like Gunna, Uno the Activist

AllHipHop: How about female rappers or artists?

ManMan Savage: My favorite is Cardi B. Just her whole demeanor, I know if I get her on a song, it’d be hard. Everytime. Nicki Minaj might be hard too. But me and Cardi would just be hits on hits on hits.

AllHipHop: Who first inspired you to make music?

ManMan Savage: Who inspired me to make music was people around me - my family, friends. As far as who I like to listen to coming up — Usher was the first artist I was really really onto. Also Twista, Gucci Mane, Lil Wayne, Hotboy.

AllHipHop: What’s next for you? Album?

ManMan Savage: Working on some stuff with Ron-Ron, we got a whole album together. It’s ready, it’s done, but I don’t know when I’m releasing it.

AllHipHop: You’re not with a label?

ManMan Savage: Independent. I like it like that.

AllHipHop: How did the ManMan Savage name come to be?

ManMan Savage: “Savage” came from the streets. I was a bad kid. “Man Man” because my mama called me that.

AllHipHop: And your mama is where?

ManMan Savage: Chicago.

AllHipHop: You have a son, right?

ManMan Savage: Yeah, he lives in Atlanta. He’s 2. That’s my heart.

AllHipHop: Does he effect the way you make music?

ManMan Savage: Yeah, I ain't gonna lie. I be watchin' the s##t I say. You never know, the way s##t goes these days, he might be listening to it by the time he’s 4. I just try to be more motivational now.

AllHipHop: And in terms of the process of you making music, how do you do that? You write before you go into the studio?

ManMan Savage: Nah, I go in and I freestyle. It takes 30, 40 minutes. Never a whole hour.

ManMan Savage: Honestly, probably an architect. I figured that out while making music. I like to build stuff. Come up with stuff, create, I like to have a vision and then see it build. First, I just wanted to be a football player my whole life. I know now I’m a pioneer. I got good vision. But back then, I thought I’d be a football player.

AllHipHop: What’s your favorite football team?

ManMan Savage: I don’t even watch football now. Back in the day, it was the Raiders. I loved Jerry Rice.

AllHipHop: What's the E.A. movement?

ManMan Savage: It stands for East Atlanta, and everybody active. Just basically, my whole team is active. You gotta be progressing. Entrepreneurs, achievers. You gotta be active to be around me. That’s my “EA Savage” s##t.